Association between self-esteem and perceived social support in patients with facial burn scars at burn and Plastic Surgery Centre Peshawar, Pakistan

Background: Burn injuries, a significant global public health challenge, cause significant morbidity and psychological problems, particularly in low to middle-income countries. These injuries can lead to social isolation, fear, and despair, thus adding to victims' psychological burden. However, the perception of social assistance helps burn sufferers cope better post-trauma and improve their self-esteem.Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the association between self-esteem and perceived social support in patients with facial burn scars, and thus contribute to a better understanding of the psychological well-being of people with facial burn scars.Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted at the Burn and Plastic Surgery Centre in Peshawar. The sample size comprised 110 study participants with facial burn scars, selected through consecutive sampling techniques. Moreover, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale were administered to collect data and analyse it through SPSS.Results: A majority of participants, 64.5%, exhibited low levels of self-esteem, while 35.5% demonstrated moderate to high self-esteem. Similarly, a significant portion (58.2%) reported low levels, while 41.8% indicated moderate to high levels of perceived social support. Hence, there was a significant association between self-esteem and perceived social support (p:< 0.005). Moreover, gender, age, marital status, socioeconomic status, and employment status had significant associations with self-esteem.Conclusion: This study emphasises the significant impact of social support on self-esteem among individuals who have facial burn injuries. This emphasises the importance of addressing the distinct requirements of patients, with a specific focus on their psychological welfare. This research thus highlights the need for customised interventions designed to improve social support for people with facial burn scars.